Berkley’s Gaffney has close-up view of matchup

He watched the 2008 NBA Finals on television with friends while attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

Writer

Posted Jun. 15, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 15, 2010 at 3:04 PM

Posted Jun. 15, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 15, 2010 at 3:04 PM

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He watched the 2008 NBA Finals on television with friends while attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

“Clearly rooting for the Celtics,’’ said Tony Gaffney of Berkley, recalling that championship round matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Two years later, Gaffney is again watching the Celtics and Lakers go at it for the NBA title, but this time around, he is getting an up-close view.

Signed by the Celtics on the final day of the regular season on April 14, Gaffney is on the team’s 15-player roster and has been sitting on the bench wearing a suit and tie during their run through the playoffs.

The 25-year-old forward, who attended Somerset High School, will be in line for a championship ring if the Celtics can win one more game over the Lakers in the Finals, either tonight or Thursday night in California.

It has been a magic-carpet ride for Gaffney, whose basketball roots include playing on courts in Taunton, right next to his small hometown.

He went to training camp with the Lakers last fall, and after being waived late, signed with Altshuler Saham Galil Galboa in Israel, only to suffer a broken foot in his first game last November.

Gaffney, the Atlantic 10 defensive player of the year in 2008-09 with UMass, returned home to Berkley for the rehabilitation process, then was signed by the Celtics on the final day of the regular season with an eye on the future.

The 6-foot-8 Gaffney, who played two years at Boston University before transferring to UMass, works out with the Celtics on a daily basis and is getting ready for an appearance in the AirTran Airways Pro Summer League in Orlando starting on July 5.

“It’s killing me not playing now because I’m still rehabbing my foot,’’ said Gaffney, “but to be able to experience all this as a rookie and see the way a veteran group of guys goes about a championship run, it’s something I’ll be able to keep with me forever. I’ll keep that as something to follow.

“If I hadn’t signed with the Celtics, right now, I would probably be getting ready for next season like I am, just not with the best players. I have the luxury of doing it with the best training staff and having the tools. The resources here are amazing.’’

Gaffney, who joined guard Oliver Lafayette as a last-minute addition to the roster in April, grew up cheering for the Celtics and has posters from the 1980s in his room in Berkley.

Now he is on the roster, assigned No. 27 and watching a championship run from the best spot.

“I had a dream of being in the NBA,’’ said Gaffney, who averaged 11.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots as a UMass senior. “Obviously, every kid does. Every Division 1 college basketball player does. I thought I could get here.

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“Did I ever think it would be with the Boston Celtics? There was a 1 in 30 chance if I did get to the league. Here I am in the Finals with them and it’s pretty special.

“I’m blessed to be watching something pretty special right now. I’m in practice with three future Hall of Famers and, hopefully, one in the making (in Rajon Rondo). For a local kid to be able to be a part of something like this, that’s anyone from this state’s dream that follows basketball.’’

Ironically, Gaffney’s NBA journey began with the Lakers last fall and he became friends with the players before being released. Gaffney remains in touch with Luke Walton, among others.

“That was special as well,’’ he said. “Those are two of the storied franchises in NBA history. Being able to be with both teams in the same season as a rookie, it’s kind of unheard of. I don’t know if it’s ever been done before. I’m definitely blessed.

“They treated me great there. I talk to them all the time. I keep close relationships with Luke Walton, Derek Fisher, Ron Artest. I’m still good friends with all of them, but I’m looking forward to putting a ring on my finger with the Celtics.’’

Gaffney is gearing up for his appearance in the summer league in Florida, hoping to make a good impression with an eye on training camp in the fall.

The games in Orlando next month will be his first since breaking a bone in the foot in Israel.

“It’s about 100 percent now,’’ said Gaffney of the foot. “Probably about a week from now it’ll be all there. I’ll be ready for summer league, then get back here and get ready for veteran camp.’’